CLECKHEATON RESIDENTS FACE 22 MILE ROUND TRIP TO VIEW LOCAL PLANS

10.03.00pm GMT Mon 3rd Dec 2007

Councillor Ann Raistrick (Lib Dem, Cleckheaton ward)

Councillor Ann Raistrick (Lib Dem, Cleckheaton ward) has hit out at a Kirklees Council decision to withdraw paper copies of planning documents from Cleckheaton Town Hall. Now the only way for local residents to see full paper copies to learn about developments affecting their area is to travel to the Planning Department in Huddersfield - a round trip of about 22 miles.

Lib Dem councillors in Cleckheaton have opposed the move, arguing it will make it harder for residents to get involved in decisions affecting their communities. Cleckheaton currently has no Library and Information Centre in which to view plans on a special computer with a large monitor.

Councillor Raistrick said: "This situation is totally unsatisfactory. Residents need to be able to access large complex plans on paper, so that they can understand how proposed developments will affect their area. The Council must make a special computer available to view plans - an ordinary sized screen is just too small when looking at big plans.

Until a suitable method of viewing plans can be provided in Cleckheaton, Cllr Raistrick believes paper plans should be retained. "At least if paper plans were available at Cleckheaton Town Hall we could be sure that residents could look at the proposals and understand what impact it is likely to have. They could also avoid driving all the way to Huddersfield just to see what developments are proposed for their neighbourhoods."